A Phase 1/2a, Multicenter, Open-Label, First in Human Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Preliminary Antitumor Activity of DB-1311 in Subjects With Advanced/Metastatic Solid Tumors

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Overview

BNT324 (DB-1311) is an investigational antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) targeting B7-H3, being co-developed by BioNTech and DualityBio. It is in a global first‑in‑human Phase 1/2a trial (NCT05914116) across multiple advanced solid tumors, with preliminary efficacy signals in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and castration‑resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In June 2024 the FDA granted Fast Track designation for CRPC; in July 2024 it received Orphan Drug designation for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). (clinicaltrials.biontech.com)

Mechanism of action

• Target: B7-H3 (CD276), an immune checkpoint protein overexpressed in many solid tumors with limited expression in normal tissues and associated with poor prognosis. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
• Construct: Humanized anti–B7‑H3 IgG1 linked via a cleavable maleimide tetrapeptide linker to a proprietary DNA topoisomerase‑I inhibitor payload (also described preclinically as P1021); drug‑to‑antibody ratio ≈6. (aacrjournals.org)
• Dosing/PK (Phase 1/2a): 3–12 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks; maximum tolerated dose (MTD) 9 mg/kg. ADC and payload exposures increased ~dose‑proportionally; ADC half‑life ~3–4 days, payload ~5 days. (oncologypro.esmo.org)

Efficacy

• All‑comers, early ESMO Asia dataset (as of May 24, 2024): Among 77 response‑evaluable patients across dose levels, unconfirmed ORR (uORR) 28.6% (95% CI 18.9–40.0) and disease control rate (DCR) 83.1%. In SCLC (n=33), uORR 45.5%; responses also observed in CRPC (n=3), NSCLC (n=3), and cholangiocarcinoma (n=1). (oncologypro.esmo.org)
• Expanded interim analysis (press release, presented at ESMO Asia 2024): Across evaluable patients (n=238), uORR 32.4% and DCR 82.4%. Subgroups: SCLC uORR 56.2% (n=73) overall; at 9 mg/kg, SCLC patients with prior immunotherapy but no prior topoisomerase‑I inhibitor had uORR 70.4%. CRPC uORR 28.0% (n=32), median radiographic PFS 7.2 months (data immature), 6‑month rPFS rate 94.7%. NSCLC non‑squamous uORR 22.0% (n=41), squamous uORR 16.0% (n=25). (en.dualitybiologics.com)
• CRPC (ASCO 2025, press release summary): In heavily pretreated CRPC, confirmed ORR 30.8% and DCR 90.4% among 52 efficacy‑evaluable patients; 6‑month rPFS rate 69.8% among 68 evaluable patients. (prnewswire.com)

Notes: Response rates above are preliminary (often unconfirmed by independent review unless stated) and from ongoing dose‑finding/expansion cohorts; maturation of PFS/DoR data is pending. (oncologypro.esmo.org)

Safety

• ESMO Asia 2024 interim (n=126 treated): Treatment‑emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in 90.5% (treatment‑related 81.0%); grade ≥3 TEAEs in 42.1% (treatment‑related 31.7%). Common any‑grade TEAEs (≥20%): nausea (46.0%; grade ≥3 2.4%), decreased neutrophil count (34.9%; 15.9%), anemia (32.5%; 7.1%), decreased platelet count (25.4%; 6.3%), decreased WBC count (23.0%; 4.8%). Dose reductions in 9.5% and discontinuations in 5.6%. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
• Company ASCO 2025 summary: most frequent AEs were gastrointestinal and hematologic; discontinuation rates were low in the CRPC cohort. (Topline description only.) (prnewswire.com)

Trial status

• Global Phase 1/2a, first‑in‑human, multicenter, open‑label study (DB‑1311‑O‑1001; NCT05914116); recruiting sites in the US, Australia, China, and Taiwan. Design includes dose escalation (accelerated titration then 3+3) and multiple tumor‑specific expansion cohorts. (aacrjournals.org)

Regulatory designations

• FDA Fast Track designation (June 24, 2024) for advanced/unresectable or metastatic CRPC progressing after standard regimens.
• FDA Orphan Drug designation (July 2024) for advanced/metastatic ESCC. (globenewswire.com)

Further reading

• AACR 2024 trial‑in‑progress abstract describing DB‑1311 construct and study design. (aacrjournals.org)
• ESMO Asia 2024 OncologyPRO abstract with early safety/efficacy and MTD details. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
• DualityBio press release summarizing expanded ESMO Asia 2024 interim outcomes across tumor types. (en.dualitybiologics.com)
• ASCO 2025 company summary highlighting CRPC cohort outcomes. (prnewswire.com)
• AACR 2023 preclinical abstract on DB‑1311 (payload P1021) and DAR optimization. (aacrjournals.org)
• BioNTech/DualityBio Fast Track designation announcement for CRPC. (globenewswire.com)

Disclaimer: Data are from ongoing early‑phase studies and company/meeting reports; results may evolve with additional follow‑up and independent review. (oncologypro.esmo.org)

Last updated: Oct 2025

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female adults (defined as ≥ 18 years of age or acceptable age according to local regulations at the time of voluntarily signing of informed consent).

2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable advanced/metastatic solid tumor that has relapsed or progressed on or after standard systemic treatments, or is intolerable with standard treatment; or for which no standard treatment is available.

3. At least one measurable lesion as assessed by the investigator according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 criteria (measurable disease as defined by RANO 2.0 criteria for GBM subjects). Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) subjects with bone only disease may be eligible on a case-by- case basis after discussion with the Medical Monitor.

4. Has a life expectancy of ≥ 3 months.

5. Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-1.

6. Has LVEF ≥ 50% by either echocardiography (ECHO) or multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) within 28 days before enrollment.

7. Has adequate organ function within 7 days prior to Day 1 of Cycle 1

8. Has adequate treatment washout period prior to Day 1 of Cycle 1

9. Is willing to provide pre-existing resected tumor samples or undergo fresh tumor biopsy for the measurement of B7-H3 level and other biomarkers if no contraindication.

Note: there is no minimum B7-H3 expression level mandatory for entry into the study.

10. Is capable of comprehending study procedures and risks outlined in the informed consent and able to provide written consent and agree to comply with the requirements of the study and the schedule of assessments.

11. Male and female subjects of reproductive/childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., double barrier or intrauterine contraceptive) during the study and for at least 4 months and 7 months after the last dose of study drug, respectively.

12. Male subjects must not freeze or donate sperm starting at screening and throughout the study period, and at least 4 months after the final study drug administration.

13. Female subjects must not donate, or retrieve for their own use, ova from the time of screening and throughout the study treatment period, and for at least 7 months after the final study drug administration.

14. SCLC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 1 ONLY):

* Pathologically documented locally advanced, or metastatic SCLC not amenable to curative surgery or radiation.

* Prior therapy with at least one platinum-based line as systemic therapy for extensive stage disease with at least two cycles of therapy (except in the case of early objective PD).

* Prior treatment regimens with irinotecan, topotecan or any other TOP I inhibitor including investigational TOP I inhibitors are not allowed.

15. NSCLC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 2 ONLY):

* Pathologically documented locally advanced, or metastatic NSCLC and is not amenable to curative surgery or radiation.

* Has received prior treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy regimen and/or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based regimen in the advanced/unresectable, or metastatic setting unless unable or unwilling. Subjects with NSCLC known to harbor a genomic alteration(s) other than EGFR mutation(s) (e.g., ALK rearrangement, ROS1 rearrangement, KRAS G12C mutation, BRAF V600E mutation, NTRK1/2/3 Gene fusion, MET Exon 14 skipping, RET rearrangement etc.) for which treatment is available must have also received prior treatment with at least 1 genotype-directed therapy.

16. ESCC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 3 ONLY):

* Pathologically documented locally advanced, or metastatic ESCC and is not amenable to curative surgery or radiation.

* Having received at least one prior therapy for unresectable disease. Patients with recurrence within 6 months of completion of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy will be considered as having received one prior therapy for unresectable disease.

17. CRPC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 4 ONLY):

* Pathologically documented metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate cancer.

* Progressive metastatic CRPC as defined: 1) castrate levels of serum testosterone \< 50 ng/dL AND 2) progressive disease as defined by PCWG3 criteria.

* Having received prior docetaxel (before or after an AR-targeted therapy). Docetaxel rechallenge was allowed.

* Having received prior novel hormone therapy.

18. Melanoma subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 5 ONLY)

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of unresectable Stage III or metastatic melanoma not amenable to local therapy, must have had either:

* Previously treated with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor.

* If subjects with BRAF gene mutant melanoma, must have had a prior treatment regimen that included vemurafenib, dabrafenib, or another BRAF gene and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) protein inhibitor.

19. HCC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 6 ONLY)

* Histological/cytological confirmed diagnosis of HCC or clinically confirmed diagnosis of HCC as per American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) criteria, and:

* Has received 1 or 2 prior systemic therapy regimens for recurrent or metastatic disease;

* Has experienced disease progression during or after treatment with an anti-PD-1/L1 agent administered either as monotherapy or in combination.

Note: Subjects basically should receive prior standard therapy.

* However, if the investigator judges the therapy is not appropriate for the subject, the prior standard therapy is not necessarily mandated for the eligibility.

* Has a Child-Pugh class A liver score within 7 days of first dose of study drug.

20. Cervical cancer subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 7 ONLY)

* Has recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous histology, and:

* Has experienced disease progression during or after treatment with a standard of care systemic chemotherapy doublet, or platinum-based therapy (if eligible), defined as either:

d. paclitaxel + cisplatin + bevacizumab + anti-PD-(L)1 agent, or e. paclitaxel + carboplatin + bevacizumab + anti-PD-(L)1 agent, or f. paclitaxel + topotecan + bevacizumab + anti-PD-(L)1 agent Note: In cases where bevacizumab and/or anti-PD-(L)1 agent is not a standard of care therapy or the subject was ineligible for such treatment according to local standards, prior treatment with bevacizumab and/or anti-PD-(L)1 agent is not required.

* Has received 1 or 2 prior systemic therapy regimens for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Chemotherapy administered in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting, or in combination with radiation therapy, should not be counted as a systemic therapy regimen. Single agent therapy with an anti-PD(L)1 agent for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer should be counted.

21. Subjects with other solid tumors (Phase 2a Cohort 8 ONLY)

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors.

* Progressed or relapsed after at least one prior standard therapeutic regimen (Patients who have not received all approved or standard treatments for their cancer must be informed that these alternatives to receiving DB-1311/BNT324 are available prior to consenting to participate in this trial).

22. HNSCC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 9 ONLY)

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed refractory/metastatic (R/M) HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapies.

* Progressed on or after prior standard therapeutic regimen.

23. Subjects with rare tumors (Phase 2a Cohort 10 ONLY) Histologically or cytologically confirmed rare tumor types. Progressed or relapsed after at least one prior standard therapeutic regimen (Patients who have not received all approved or standard treatments for their cancer must be informed that these alternatives to receiving DB-1311/BNT324 are available prior to consenting to participate in this trial).

24. Post lutetium-177 CRPC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 11 ONLY):

Pathologically documented metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate cancer. Progressive metastatic CRPC as defined: 1) castrate levels of serum testosterone \< 50 ng/dL AND 2) progressive disease as defined by PCWG3 criteria.

25. Taxane-naive CRPC subjects (Phase 2a Cohort 12 ONLY) • Pathologically documented metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate cancer. Progressive metastatic CRPC as defined: 1) castrate levels of serum testosterone \< 50 ng/dL AND 2) progressive disease as defined by PCWG3 criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

Unless otherwise specified, the exclusion criteria are common to both Phase 1 and Phase 2a. Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:

1. Prior treatment with B7-H3 targeted therapy.

2. Prior treatment with antibody drug conjugate with topoisomerase inhibitor (e.g., trastuzumab deruxtecan).

3. Has a medical history of symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF) (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] classes II-IV) or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment.

4. Has a medical history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months before enrollment.

5. Has an average of Fredericia's formula-QT corrected interval (QTcF) prolongation to \> 470 millisecond (ms) in males and females based on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in triplicate.

6. Unable or unwilling to discontinue concomitant drugs that are known to prolong the QT interval.

7. Has a medical history of interstitial lung diseases (e.g., non-infectious interstitial pneumonia, pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and severe radiation pneumonitis) or current interstitial lung diseases or who are suspected to have these diseases by imaging at screening.

8. Has a history of underlying pulmonary disorder including, but not limited to, pulmonary emboli within 3 months of the start of study treatment, severe asthma, severe COPD, restrictive lung disease, and other clinically significant pulmonary compromise or requirement for supplemental oxygen.

9. Clinically significant gastrointestinal disorder including, but not limited to, history of gastrointestinal fistulation that need long-term intravenous nutrition; gastrointestinal dysfunction that need long-term enteral nutrition through the tube feeding; gastrointestinal obstruction/perforation that not recovered within 6 months prior to the enrollment.

10. Untreated or incompletely treated esophageal and/or gastric varices with bleeding or high risk of bleeding; A prior bleeding event due to esophageal and/or gastric varices within 6 months prior to initiation of study treatment (Only applicable to HCC patients).

11. Metastatic disease that involves major airways or blood vessels (e.g., patients with vascular invasion of the major portal vein and inferior vena cava).

12. Clinically uncontrolled pleural effusion, ascites or pericardial effusion requiring drainage, peritoneal shunt or cell-free concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy within 2 weeks prior to the enrollment.

13. Any autoimmune, connective tissue or inflammatory disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's, sarcoidosis) where there is documented, or a suspicion of pulmonary involvement at the time of screening.

14. Has an uncontrolled infection requiring intravenous injection of antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals.

15. Know human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

16. Subjects have active viral (any etiology) hepatitis are excluded. However, subjects with serologic evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (defined by a positive hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] test or a positive hepatitis B core antibody test) who have a viral load below the limit quantification (e.g., HBV DNA titer \< 1000 cps/mL or 200 IU/mL) and are willing to and maintain antiviral treatment are eligible. However, subjects with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have completed curative antiviral treatment and have a viral load below the limit of quantification are eligible for study entry.

17. Is a lactating mother (women who are willing to temporarily interrupt breastfeeding will also be excluded), or pregnant as confirmed by pregnancy tests performed within 7 days prior to enrollment.

18. Has spinal cord compression or clinically active central nervous system metastases, defined as untreated and symptomatic, or requiring therapy with corticosteroids or anticonvulsants to control associated symptoms. Subjects with clinically inactive brain metastases may be included in the study. Subjects with treated brain metastases that are no longer symptomatic and who require no treatment with corticosteroids or anticonvulsants may be included in the study if they have recovered from the acute toxic effect of radiotherapy. A minimum of 2 weeks must have elapsed between the end of whole brain radiotherapy and study randomization.

19. Has unresolved toxicities from previous anticancer therapy, defined as toxicities (other than alopecia) not yet resolved to NCI-CTCAE version 5.0, grade ≤ 1 or baseline. Subjects with chronic Grade 2 toxicities (e.g., Grade 2 neuropathy) may be eligible based on the discussion and agreement between Investigator and Sponsor.

20. Has multiple primary malignancies within 3 years before enrollment, except adequately resected non-melanoma skin cancer (e.g., resected basal or squamous cell skin cancer), curatively treated in-situ disease (e.g., carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast), other solid tumors curatively treated (e.g., superficial bladder cancer), or contralateral breast cancer.

21. Has substance abuse or any other medical conditions that would increase the safety risk to the subject or interfere with participation or evaluation of the clinical study in the opinion of the investigator.

22. Has known hypersensitivity to either the drug substances or inactive ingredients in the drug product.

23. Patients with other reasons that, in the opinion of the Investigator, make them unsuitable to participate in this study.